Back to the drawing board for the new NSX

[GT Pro]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2007/02/22/report-honda-back-to-the-drawing-board-for-new-nsx/

Report: Honda back to the drawing board for new NSX


When Honda unveiled the Advanced Sports Car Concept earlier this year, it said the vehicle was a direct preview of the 2008 Acura NSX. Typically automakers don't say which future production cars ambiguously named concepts are supposed to represent, but Honda officials had no problem disclosing their intentions for this project.
Now it appears the car might be headed back to the drawing board.
Although it wasn't slammed by the automotive press or enthusiasts, the concept didn't get rave reviews, either. It turns out Honda executives were hoping for something more breathtaking, too. As a result, they've asked the design team to rethink their plans, according to a report by Winding Road magazine.
While the basic proportions, V10 engine, and all-wheel-drive will stay, the rest of the package will likely change before production begins in early 2008. Look for the production version of the new NSX will arrive at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall.

I think what Honda has done here is a smart move. Quality takes time, and if they can improve on the original design of the released concept and still have it on the roads by early 2008, they've done their job.

However, if it turns out to be strongly delayed (Which seems promising for some conspicuous reason), they may have some problems on their hands especially if Toyota and Nissan have their way with their reworked supercars.

 

[McLaren]

Hopefully, this means back to being Mid-Engine.

 

[GT Pro]

Hopefully, this means back to being Mid-Engine.

Agreed.

 

[1X83Z]

2008 Acura NSX. I've been hearing about this car since before the old one was even cancelled, in 2005. If this occurs I'll truly be stunned. It's like the new Supra - a complete myth.

 

[JCE]

2008 Acura NSX. I've been hearing about this car since before the old one was even cancelled, in 2005. If this occurs I'll truly be stunned. It's like the new Supra - a complete myth.

True, but unlike the Supra I could give a rat's ass about the new NSX. The old one was too expensive to be of any worth. At least the old Supra was semi-affordable--that and much much better looking. The NSX makes a great pre-owned sports car. And if Toyota builds this new Supra as a supercar and Honda does the same with the new NSX NO ONE outside of Japan would pay more than $70k for a Japanese product. I am NOT saying that they are bad, I'm saying that the general population may not be thrilled shelling out that kind of money.

But, I'd rather own the new Supra or NSX before the Viper.

 

[YSSMAN]

Meh. I'm personally in the camp by which I would generally chose the NSX over most of the Japanese competition, and that remained the same until Honda tried to show us an FR version. Simply put, Honda shouldn't play with what has already been proven, and what has already sold well to America and the world.

...I'm eagerly awaiting a NSX/Supra/LF-A/GT-R/Z06/SRT-10/911 Turbo/F430/Gallardo SE battle...

 

[McLaren]

2008 Acura NSX. I've been hearing about this car since before the old one was even cancelled, in 2005. If this occurs I'll truly be stunned. It's like the new Supra - a complete myth.

Except for the one fact that Toyota's head men have confirmed the Supra is dead while Honda's say the NSX is yes.

One is just admitting to it in your theory.

 

[1X83Z]

Except for the one fact that Toyota's head men have confirmed the Supra is dead while Honda's say the NSX is yes.

One is just admitting to it in your theory.

Yeah, but admit it - we've been hearing nothing but "new NSX" for three years now. I truly don't believe it. It's one of the great automotive myths - like that Alfa Romeo is coming to the US.

 

[Philly]

Except for the one fact that Toyota's head men have confirmed the Supra is dead while Honda's say the NSX is yes.

One is just admitting to it in your theory.

But they very weel could change their minds in the next six to eight months. There is a lot of room for minds to be changed and things to go wrong. I will be amazed if they get a great car on the roads in a year.

I personally am having a hard time believing there will be a new NSX in the near future.

 

[YSSMAN]

Yeah, but admit it - we've been hearing nothing but "new NSX" for three years now. I truly don't believe it. It's one of the great automotive myths - like that Alfa Romeo is coming to the US.

Not just the NSX, but the Supra, LF-A, and even the GT-R have been in "development" for so long that you have to wonder if they are even doing it at all. I've always found it to be so strange that European and American manufactures can turn on a dime and decide that they are going to build a given car, and have it on the streets in two years or less. Look at the Solstice/Sky/GT for a good example of that, hell, look at the R8 as well. Concept to prototype to production that fast?

...Why can't "the world's greatest automakers" do that in the land of the rising sun?

(Oh, and Alfa is supposed to start showing up late this year at your local Maserati dealer, and we should see some stand-alone dealers later in 2008. Look for the Berera and 159 first, and the 8C should serve as an introductory flagship as well...)

 

[GT Pro]

From what I can tell, the GTR will hit roads sooner on target than that of the LF-A/Supra (We've already seen genuine testing). As for the NSX, they 'do' seem like they want to get this thing right so I'll await the Tokyo Motor Show.

However, the LF-A/Supra venture was screwed as soon as they unveiled it, so I couldn't give a damn where that thing goes. The GTR and NSX on the other hand look much more promising.

 

[1X83Z]

(Oh, and Alfa is supposed to start showing up late this year at your local Maserati dealer, and we should see some stand-alone dealers later in 2008. Look for the Berera and 159 first, and the 8C should serve as an introductory flagship as well...)

I'll believe it when I see it - they left the states in 1995 and I've been hearing rumors about their return since around the time the 9-5 debuted. I don't see it occurring.

 

[dylansan]

I'm glad it's changing. I never liked the look of the new one. THe whole rear end just doesn't do it for me. I wish they'd give a try to make it true to the original. I love it when cars are designed to have classic styling, and it kills me because a lot of Japanese cars never bother to do this. The new Mustang, Fiat 500, etc. all look similar to the old version, but the new CIvic, and this NSX, just don't look the same.

 

[McLaren]

(Oh, and Alfa is supposed to start showing up late this year at your local Maserati dealer, and we should see some stand-alone dealers later in 2008. Look for the Berera and 159 first, and the 8C should serve as an introductory flagship as well...)

Um, I don't think that's truely right unless it's select dealers because I doubt Boardwalk is going to be putting Alfa Romeo Breras next to their Ferrari F430s.

 

[YSSMAN]

From what I had understood, the introduction is meant to start in the Maserati dealers simply because it takes so long to have a dedicated network. The problem is that the existing network of dealers for Maserati is rather small, so obviously they will be searching for new dealerships. My Boss' father-in-law's dealer will probably be looking to pick-up the Alfa package, as he is also looking into becoming a Smart dealer as well.

---

More on-topic:

NSX versus GT-R? I'd have to say that I'd vote Honda in that round, that is, if Honda decides to build it the right way (MR).

 

[skip0110]

I'm just getting all excited thinking about what a 5 liter V-10 Honda will sound like.

I could care less what package it comes in.

 

[a6m5]

I did like the previous concept, but it wasn't the head-turner NSX was. In my book, NSX is one of the best looking sports cars ever.

 

[YSSMAN]

I did like the previous concept, but it wasn't the head-turner NSX was. In my book, NSX is one of the best looking sports cars ever.

...Thats stretching it just a tiny bit, but I could concede that it is one of the best-looking from the post-'80s into '90s era (dominated by the NSX, C4, 300ZX, etc).

Best-looking sportscar ever?

That may have to go to McQueen's Jaguar XK SS:

Oh yes!

 

[Tornado]

In my book, NSX is one of the best looking sports cars ever.

The Lamborghini Countach and Diablo, Lotus Esprit and Ferrari F355 and 512TR kill the NSX.

That may have to go to McQueen's Jaguar XK SS:

Bah. That was a one-off.
This was not:

 

[Wolfe]

So...which topic is this thread about, again? The best-looking sportscar, the status of Alfa Romeo in the u.s. and other automotive industry myths, or the next NSX?

...I'm eagerly awaiting a NSX/Supra/LF-A/GT-R/Z06/SRT-10/911 Turbo/F430/Gallardo SE battle...

Watch Best Motoring much? I don't know if they've ever done a battle quite that big, but I've been waiting to see them test the 997 Turbo. I'd love to see a redux of the 996 Turbo issue, with all of the new cars replacing their older counterparts -- the next NSX, Z06, F430, GT-R, Evo X, and 997 Turbo going at it around Sugo.

I'm glad it's changing. I never liked the look of the new one. THe whole rear end just doesn't do it for me. I wish they'd give a try to make it true to the original.

Um? I admit it looked too concept-ish, but the ASC was an homage to the NSX. Between the laser-thin headlights that alluded to (non-existent) pop-ups, the blacked-out pillars and roof, and the taillight design that was essentially a funky reinterpretation of the original NSX's design (complete with a thin bar across the top, perhaps imitating the original car's spoiler), the ASC was a rough draft of everything a modern NSX should be, in my eyes.

 

[a6m5]

...Thats stretching it just a tiny bit, but I could concede that it is one of the best-looking from the post-'80s into '90s era (dominated by the NSX, C4, 300ZX, etc).

Best-looking sportscar ever?

That may have to go to McQueen's Jaguar XK SS:

Oh yes!

The Lamborghini Countach and Diablo, Lotus Esprit and Ferrari F355 and 512TR kill the NSX.

"In my book", guys, I'm not stretching anything. And to me, NSX looks better than the two Ferraris Toronado mentions. It's weird how I rate Testarossa as the best looking design of all time, but don't care for 512TR. Oh, and Esprit/NSX is just about a tie.

P.S. I don't care(at all) for the cars you guys posted pics of.

 

[Z32]

they shoulda stayed with the HSC. or atleast continue working on its styling to bring it to the next step

 

[Dave A]

Bah. That was a one-off.
This was not:

I agree 100%, that is the best looking sportscar ever built.

They look nice but understated in pictures, but in person they are absolutely fantastic.

 

[Jim Prower]

well, the "anime" look got the axe, eh? let's hope it goes MR, too.

MR too...MR2....no, wrong make.